Meaning & use
dyke wall
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountabletechnical
A long wall or embankment built to prevent flooding or to hold back water, especially in low-lying coastal areas.
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a dyke wall' or 'dyke walls'. It is often used in engineering and geography.
Patterns
- build a dyke wall
- a dyke wall along the river
The dyke wall protected the village from the rising sea.
Engineers reinforced the dyke wall after the storm.
The dyke wall runs for several miles along the coast.
Word forms
| plural | dyke walls |
|---|
Common combinations
- build a dyke wall
- The government plans to build a dyke wall to prevent future flooding.
- dyke wall along the river
- A dyke wall along the river keeps the water from overflowing.
- reinforce the dyke wall
- Workers reinforced the dyke wall with concrete.
Synonyms and how they differ
- levee
- The usual American term for a similar structure, often made of earth.
- embankment
- A broader term for a raised bank, not always for flood control.
Word family
- dyke noun
- A long wall or ditch used to control water.
Commonly confused: dyke wall or dam?
dyke wall vs dam
A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of water, often creating a reservoir. A dyke wall is usually built along a river or coast to prevent flooding.
Practice
What is the main purpose of a dyke wall?
Choose one answer.
A dyke wall is built to hold back water and prevent flooding. While some structures like dams can generate electricity or store water, that is not the primary purpose of a dyke wall.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “dyke wall”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.